Sheet metal workers: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 5211 · Skilled trades occupations

Sheet metal workers

Sheet metal workers mark out, cut, shape and join sheet metal using hand or machine tools to make and repair sheet metal products and components (excluding vehicle bodywork).

How people enter it

Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training and relevant NVQs at level 2 and 3 are available.

What the work involves

examines drawings and specifications to assess job requirements
uses template, measuring instruments and tools to mark out layout lines and reference points
uses hand or machine tools to bend, roll, fold, press or beat cut sheet metal
assembles prepared parts and joins them by bolting, welding or soldering
finishes product by grinding, filing, cleaning and polishing
repairs damaged metal parts such as copper sheets and tubes by beating, riveting, soldering, welding and fitting replacement parts
checks final product to ensure conformity with specifications

Also called

Coppersmith · Metal fabricator · Panel beater (metal trades) · Sheet metal fabricator · Sheet metal worker

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	7,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	7,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	8,700.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	1,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	1,100.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	10,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	None	2026-03	600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03
East Midlands	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	1,300.00	2026-03
London	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03
North East	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03
North West	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	3,400.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	1,600.00	2026-03
Scotland	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	1,100.00	2026-03
South East	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	1,300.00	2026-03
South West	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03
Wales	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	600.00	2026-03
West Midlands	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	5211 : Sheet metal workers	None	withheld	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for sheet metal workers vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 6 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations · Pipe fitters · Welding trades